Alice In Chains Facelift CD

Alice In Chains: Layne Staley (vocals); Jerry Cantrell (guitar); Michael Starr (bass); Sean Kinney (drums).

Recorded at London Bridge Studios, Seattle, Washington and Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood, California.
Personnel: Layne Staley (vocals); Jerry Cantrell (guitar, background vocals); Sean Kinney (drums, percussion, background vocals); Kevin Shuss, Michael Starr, Mike Starr (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Dave Jerden.
Recording information: Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; London Bridge Studios, Seattle, WA.
Photographer: Rocky Schenck.
When Alice in Chains' debut album, Facelift, was released in 1990, about a year before Nirvana's Nevermind, the thriving Seattle scene barely registered on the national musical radar outside of underground circles (although Soundgarden's major-label debut, Louder Than Love, was also released that year and brought them a Grammy nomination). That started to change when MTV jumped all over the video for "Man in the Box," giving the group a crucial boost and helping to pave the way for grunge's popular explosion toward the end of 1991. Although their dominant influences -- Black Sabbath, the Stooges -- were hardly unique on the Seattle scene, Alice in Chains were arguably the most metallic of grunge bands, which gave them a definite appeal outside the underground; all the same, the group's sinister, brooding, suffocating sound resembled little else gaining wide exposure on the 1990 hard rock scene. Neither hedonistic nor especially technically accomplished, Alice in Chains' songs were mostly slow, oppressive dirges with a sense of melody that was undeniable, yet which crept along over the murky sludge of the band's instrumental attack in a way that hardly fit accepted notions of what made hard rock catchy and accessible. Although some parts of Facelift sink into turgid, ponderous bombast (particularly over the erratic second half), and the lyrics are sometimes immature, the overall effect is fresh, exciting, and powerful. While Alice in Chains would go on to do better and more consistent work, Facelift was one of the most important records in establishing an audience for grunge and alternative rock among hard rock and heavy metal listeners, and with its platinum sales certification, it also made Alice in Chains the first Seattle band to break through to a wider, less exclusively underground audience. ~ Steve Huey
Long before the phrase, "Seattle scene" spoke of an impact that a new generation of musicians was having on rock music, Alice in Chains was struggling to be recognized in the shadow of bands that were more focused on image than craft. On FACELIFT, the band's major label debut, Alice in Chains proved that its fusion of blues, hard rock, and gritty imagery was a force to be reckoned with. While college radio stations ate up fare like "It Ain't Like That" and "We Die Young," the song "Man in a Box" became a banner track that pushed the band into the forefront of heavy rotation on MTV and the playlists of mainstream rock radio stations.
Vocalist Layne Staley's moody, dynamic vocals on "Love, Hate, Love" tell a chilling tale of a homicidal psychotic lamenting and musing over what he's done to his lover. On tracks such as "Sea of Sorrow" and "I Can't Remember," guitarist Jerry Cantrell shows equally impressive skill in Sabbath-styled riffing, blues licks, and Hendrix-influenced solos. Alice in Chains made a brash musical and lyrical statement that gave the stale era of thrash and hair metal a much-needed facelift.Rolling Stone (9/20/90) - "..the quartet's debut album...intense, throbbing experience.."
Spin (12/90) - "..metal's answer to Joy Division--gloriously, unabashedly bummed out...striking songwriting.."
Q (10/99, p.140) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...established these four hairy young men as leaders of a new rock age..."
New York Times (Publisher) (11/18/90) - "..they knock out punchy, tightly structured arena rock.."